French Polynesia
Checklist of Endemic Marine Fish Species
This list of marine fish species found exclusively in French Polynesia is based on the taxonomy used in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes (2023). For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.
Fricke, R., Eschmeyer, W. N. & Van der Laan, R. (eds) 2023 Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References. Version downloaded 9 February 2023 https://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp
The current version can be accessed here
For a 2015 article listing 68 endemic marine fish species from the Marquesas see (ResearchGate). For a 2017 article indicating endemic shore fishes see (ResearchGate).
Marine fishes known only from the deep-sea (below 200 m) are listed at the bottom of the page and are not included in species totals
+ = species added to the Catalog of Fishes after 9 Februrary 2023
Acanthurus reversus
(Acanthuriformes Acanthuridae) Marquesan
Surgeonfish
Chaetodon trichrous
(Acanthuriformes Chaetodontidae) Tahiti
Butterflyfish
Pempheris rapa
(Acropomatiformes Pempheridae) Rapa Sweeper
Ariosoma sereti
(Anguilliformes Congridae)
Apterichtus mysi
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)
Apterichtus succinus
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)
Callechelys randalli
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)
Alticus simplicirrus
(Blenniiformes Blenniidae) Marquesan Rockskipper
Entomacrodus corneliae
(Blenniiformes Blenniidae) Cornelia's
Rockskipper
Entomacrodus macrospilus
(Blenniiformes Blenniidae) Bigspot Rockskipper
Entomacrodus randalli
(Blenniiformes Blenniidae)
Medusablennius chani
(Blenniiformes Blenniidae) Medusa Combtooth
Blenny
Enneapterygius randalli
(Blenniiformes Tripterygiidae) Rapa Triplefin
Engyprosopon marquisense
(Carangiformes Bothidae)
Trachinotus macrospilus
(Carangiformes Carangidae) Marquesas Dart
Nematops nanosquama
(Carangiformes Poecilopsettidae) Smallscale
Righteye Flounder
Aseraggodes auroculus
(Carangiformes Soleidae)
Aseraggodes lateralis
(Carangiformes Soleidae)
Abudefduf conformis
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Marquesan Sergeant
Chromis flavapicis
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Yellowtipped
Chromis
Chromis planesi
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Mirrorscale Chromis
Dascyllus strasburgi
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Strasburg's
Dascyllus
Plectroglyphidodon
sagmarius (Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Marquesan Damselfish
Pycnochromis abruptus
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Marquesan Whitetail Chromis
Pycnochromis fatuhivae
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Fatu Hiva Chromis
Stegastes lividus
(Cichliformes Pomacentridae) Bluntsnout Gregory
Sardinella marquesensis
(Clupeiformes Dorosomatidae) Marquesan
Sardinella
Amblyeleotris marquesas
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Callogobius williamsi + (Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Williams' Flapheaded Goby
Eviota albolineata
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Whiteline Dwarfgoby
Eviota deminuta
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Diminutive Dwarfgoby
Eviota dorsimaculata
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Dorsalspot Dwarfgoby
Eviota lacrimosa
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae) Weeping Dwarfgoby
Kelloggella tricuspidata
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Oxyurichthys rapa
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Pascua sticta (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Pleurosicya australis
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Priolepis ailina
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Stonogobiops medon
(Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Trimma erwani (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Slanted Pygmygoby
Trimma woutsi (Gobiiformes Gobiidae)
Wouter's Pygmygoby
Parioglossus galzini
(Gobiiformes Microdesmidae)
Ptereleotris melanopogon
(Gobiiformes Microdesmidae) Striped Dartfish
Schindleria multidentata
(Gobiiformes Schindleriidae)
Ostichthys ovaloculus
(Holocentriformes Holocentridae) Ovaleye
Soldierfish
Apogon lativittatus
(Kurtiformes Apogonidae) Broadband
Cardinalfish
Apogon marquesensis
(Kurtiformes Apogonidae) Marquesas Ruby
Cardinalfish
Foa leisi (Kurtiformes Apogonidae)
Leis' Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus brevispinis
(Kurtiformes Apogonidae) Tinyspine
Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus relativus
(Kurtiformes Apogonidae) Sister Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus sinus
(Kurtiformes Apogonidae) Recess Cardinalfish
Pseudamiops phasma
(Kurtiformes Apogonidae) Marquesas Naked
Cardinalfish
Encheliophis chardewalli
(Ophidiiformes Carapidae)
Nemanthias regalis
(Perciformes Anthiadidae)
Plectranthias cirrhitoides
(Perciformes Anthiadidae) Rapa Perchlet
Plectranthias flammeus
(Perciformes Anthiadidae) Flame Perchlet
Plectranthias hinano
(Perciformes Anthiadidae) Hinano's Perchlet
Pseudanthias hiva
(Perciformes Anthiadidae) Hiva Anthias
Pseudanthias oumati
(Perciformes Anthiadidae) Saffron Anthias
Bovichtus veneris
(Perciformes Bovichtidae)
Epinephelus irroratus
(Perciformes Epinephelidae) Marquesan Grouper
Pseudogramma galzini
(Perciformes Grammistidae) Galzin Podge
Pseudogramma paucilepis
(Perciformes Grammistidae) Weakscaled Podge
Coris hewetti (Perciformes Labridae)
Hewitt's Coris
Coris marquesensis
(Perciformes Labridae) Marquesan Coris
Iniistius auropunctatus
(Perciformes Labridae) Marquesas Razorfish
Macropharyngodon pakoko
(Perciformes Labridae) Pakoko Wrasse
Pseudojuloides proserpina
(Perciformes Labridae) Pomegranate Pencil
Wrasse
Pseudojuloides pyrius
(Perciformes Labridae)
Pseudolabrus torotai
(Perciformes Labridae) Rapa Wrasse
Scarus koputea
(Perciformes Labridae) Marquesan Parrotfish
Stethojulis marquesensis
(Perciformes Labridae) Marquesas Wrasse
Terelabrus toretore + (Perciformes Labridae) Tahitian Striped Hogfish
Liopropoma flavidum
(Perciformes Liopropomatidae) Yellow Basslet
Parapercis johnsoni
(Perciformes Pinguipedidae) Polynesian
Sandperch
Dendrochirus tuamotuensis
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Tuomotu Dwarf
Scorpionfish
Neomerinthe naevosa
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae) Blotched Polynesian
Scorpionfish
Scorpaenopsis pusilla
(Perciformes Scorpaenidae)
Callionymus marquesensis
(Syngnathiformes Callionymidae) Marquesas
Ruddertail Dragonet
Parupeneus louise
(Syngnathiformes Mullidae) Louise Goatfish
Parupeneus williamsi
(Syngnathiformes Mullidae) Williams' Goatfish
Cantherhines nukuhiva
(Tetraodontiformes Monacanthidae) Nuka Hiva Filefish
Canthigaster criobe
(Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae) Striped Toby
Canthigaster marquesensis
(Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae) Marquesan Toby
Canthigaster rapaensis
(Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae) Rapa Toby
Bathyphylax pruvosti (Tetraodontiformes Triacanthodidae)
Additional deep-sea species (below 200 m) recorded only from French Polynesia:Ariosoma multivertebratum
(Anguilliformes Congridae)
Congriscus marquesaensis
(Anguilliformes Congridae)
Ophichthus congroides
(Anguilliformes Ophichthidae)
Coelorinchus ganymedes
(Gadiformes Macrouridae)
Lophiodes maculatus
(Lophiiformes Lophiidae) Spotted Anglerfish
Malthopsis velutina
(Lophiiformes Ogcocephalidae) Polynesian
Triangular Batfish
Tuamotuichthys bispinosus
(Ophidiiformes Bythitidae) Twospined
Slopebrotula
Neobythites marquesaensis
(Ophidiiformes Ophidiidae)
Plectrogenium longipinnis
(Perciformes Plectrogeniidae)